HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE GIZ WIZ!! (Fairway too.)
December 31, 2009 1 Comment Friday, January 1st, 2010 Netcast 995
How timely is this Gadget Warehouse Friday gadget? Very! First we need a little background, thanks to Wikipedia. (If you’re in a hurry just read the “bold print” part.)
The 2000-2007 version of the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball, designed by Waterford Crystal, made its first descent during the last minute of the 20th century, at the Times Square 2000 Celebration. The Ball was a geodesic sphere, six feet in diameter, and weighed approximately 1,070 pounds. It was covered with a total of 504 Waterford crystal triangles that varied in size and ranged in length from 4.75 inches to 5.75 inches per side. For the 2007 New Year's Eve celebration, 72 of the crystal triangles featured the new "Hope for Peace" design, consisting of three dove-like patterns symbolizing messengers of peace. The remaining 432 triangles featured Waterford designs from previous years, including the Hope for Fellowship, Hope for Wisdom, Hope for Unity, Hope for Courage, Hope for Healing, Hope for Abundance, and Star of Hope triangles. These crystal triangles were bolted to 168 translucent triangular lexan panels which were attached to the aluminum frame of the Ball. The exterior of the Ball was illuminated by 168 Philips Halogená Brilliant Crystal light bulbs, exclusively engineered for the New Year's Eve Ball to enhance the Waterford crystal. The interior of the Ball was illuminated by 432 Philips Light Bulbs (208 clear, 56 red, 56 blue, 56 green, and 56 yellow), and 96 high-intensity strobe lights, which together create bright bubbling bursts of color. The exterior of the Ball featured 90 rotating pyramid mirrors that reflect light back into the audience at Times Square.
What I have in the warehouse is one of those Philips Halogena Brilliant Crystal light bulbs specially designed for the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball! In June of 2006 at a Philips Press Event, the parting gift for members of the press was one of the run of extra light bulbs Philips manufactured as replacement bulbs for the Times Square Ball. I figured this bulb was the perfect gadget for the first Daily Giz Wiz episode of 2010!
Reader Comments (1)
This Halogena bulb looks like the standard Halogena Crystal bulb ( http://www.lighting.philips.com/us_en/products/halogena/decorative_times_square.php?main=us_en_consumer_lighting&parent=7593748565&id=us_en_products&lang=en ) with some extra decorations. It should work well with your standard 120V 50Hz mains power.